Lauren Estes
Special to the Enquirer

Falkville’s Blue Devils (6-2, 5-2) have not won a region championship since 1996, but had an opportunity to play for one on Friday.

Falkville gave Ragland their closest-played region game of the season, losing 24-0 at home on Friday. The next closest game played against the Purple Devils was 36-7, at the beginning of the season at Addison.

“I thought once again, defensively, we played really well,” said head coach Joel Schrenk. “Ragland is a great football team. I put us in a bad situation two or three times. This one is on me. I thought the kids played their hearts out and did what they were asked to do. I just didn’t feel like I had us ready.”

Neither team scored in the first quarter. Both defenses showed their strength, forcing each other to punt and turn the ball over on downs.

In the second quarter, Ragland was able to get on the board with 10:15 on the clock. On a fourth and seven play, Kijana Lindsay scored on a seven-yard quarterback keeper. The extra point was no good, giving the Purple Devils their first lead of the ball game at 6-0.

After a Falkville turnover on Ragland’s 25-yard line, the Purple Devils scored after a nine-play drive at the 2:59 mark before the half. Lindsay found himself in the end zone on an eight-yard keeper. His two-point conversion was picked off by Falkville’s Aaron Estes in the end zone, leaving the score at 12-0.

After the kickoff, the Blue Devils managed a nine-play drive but were unable to score before halftime.

Ragland had the ball at the start of the third quarter. Falkville forced the Purple Devil’s to punt after an eight-play drive. On a second and eight play, the Blue Devils fumbled on their own 17-yard line and Ragland recovered. Ragland went on to score on a one-yard quarterback keeper by Lindsay at the 6:47 mark in the third. The extra point was blocked by FHS’s Clay Austill, leaving the score at 18-0.

Falkville was forced to punt after a six-play drive from their 46-yard line. The Purple Devils’ next drive included a fumble on FHS’s 16-yard line, recovered by Shawn Mears. Both teams punted on the next three drives in the fourth quarter.

Ragland fumbled again halfway through the fourth quarter, forced and recovered by FHS’s Shawn Mears. After a seven-play drive, Falkville turned the ball over on downs on its own 44-yard line.

Lindsay scored again on a 30-yard keeper with 1:46 to go in the game. Falkville’s Lucas Johnson blocked the PAT attempt leaving the score at 24-0. This win gave Ragland the region championship, and moved the Blue Devils to third place.

Falkville will host county foe Danville on Friday. Falkville will also travel to Pickens County for the first round of the playoffs on Nov. 9. This is their first playoff appearance since 2006.

“We will be ready for Danville. We’ve already started talking about Danville; we will be a different team next Friday,” said Schrenk.

Ryan Sullivan who played quarterback for most of the game for Falkville finished the night 6-for-11 for 41 yards and two interceptions. Aaron Estes finished 4-for-7 for 40 yards.

Hunter Woodall finished the game with 97 all-purpose yards.